WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-Unemployment, uninsured numbers rising in North Carolina

Unemployment, uninsured numbers rising in North Carolina

by David Whisenant - bio l email

SALISBURY, NC (WBTV) - The recession is hitting one area of North Carolina harder than any other state in the country.

The number of people without health insurance has jumped more than 20 percent in the last two years.

That has triggered a flood of patients to free clinics that now, in some cases, have long waiting lists. 

The Community Care Clinic in Salisbury is an extension of Rowan Regional Medical Center.  It is funded through grants, the United Way, fundraising and donations.

"We have increased all of our services here at the community care clinic, said Executive Director Connie Antosek.  "I'm talking medical, the dental clinic and pharmacy services by 100 percent."

The need here is up, just like it is all over North Carolina.

A new study found that in the last two years the number of North Carolina's uninsured has jumped 22.5 percent which is the biggest jump in the nation. 

Twenty-five percent of all adults in North Carolina have no insurance and another 9 percent don't have enough.  Usually, the number of under or uninsured individuals goes along with unemployment.

"We're seeing more and more people, more people are unemployed, more people are still laid off from various textile plants and more people are needing medical and dental care, they do not have the funding to cover it," added Antosek.

This clinic offers medical, dental, and pharmacy services, and doesn't charge patients.  Patients can make contributions if they are able. One patient did do that after a surprising visit that may have saved his life.

"A patient came in and we were treating him for various illnesses and we discovered he had cancer. He was able to receive treatment, he's doing great," said Antosek.

That patient donated a $20 bill and told the staff it was all he had to give.  He told them it was his way of saying "thank you."

Antosek said she recently attended a meeting of folks who run clinics like this in North Carolina. 

She said many of them said they may not be able to survive since there is such a demand right now for their services.

Rowan County is fortunate with both the Community Care Clinic and the Good Shepherd's Clinic that is run by First Baptist Church.  Both, for now, are in good shape financially.

Last year, the Community Care Clinic saw 750 medical patients, 1,097 dental patients, and gave out more than 7,000 prescriptions. 

That was nearly double the total for 2007 and this year will be even higher.